BACKGROUND:As a novel growth factor, human intestinal trefoil factor (TFF3) can promote cel growth and migration, and increase cel resistance to apoptosis, and it plays a great role in maintaining the mucosa integrity, mucosa protection and repairing the injured mucosa, also it has been closely related to the tumor growth and progression. With the function of mucosa repair, and as the tumor biomarker, TFF3 has a promising clinical application, but its definite interacting protein and molecular mechanism is stil unclear. OBJECTIVE:To construct and express the TFF3 recombinant protein with the tandem tag of StrepII-6×His in the target cel s for further purifying its interaction protein in the native condition based on the tandem affinity purification technique. METHODS:The DNA sequence for the tag (StrepII-TEV-6×His) and TFF3 as template was got by chemical synthesis and PCR amplification respectively. They were fused by the restriction enzyme XbaI site, and the tag sequence was located at the C terminus of TFF3 protein. TFF3-tag fusion gene was cloned into the pCDNA3.0 using EcoRI+HindIII, thus the TFF3-tag expressing vector pTFF3-C-StH was constructed and transfected transiently into gastric cel AGS by lipofectin. The recombinant TFF3-tag protein was expressed and detected by western blot assay. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The expressing vector pTFF3-C-StH for tandem affinity purification was constructed successful y, and was confirmed further by restriction enzyme analysis and sequenced. The recombinant TFF3-C-StH protein of TFF3-tag was expressed in the AGS cel , and showed specific antigenicity by western blot assay. Thus this work provides experimental base for further purification of the TFF3 interacting proteins.

Glycosides are the active ingredients (AIs) of many Chinese herbs and have become hot spots along with the findings of their new functions,such as anti-inflammatory,antivirus,enhanced immunity and anti-cancer.It has been found that glycosides exert their effects by converting to aglycons or other AIs in vivo.Therefore,the transformation of glycosides to the corresponding AIs in vitro becomes very important to enhance their bioavailabilities.The microbial transformation has an unparalleled advantage in the transformation of Chinese herbs in vitro for its reaction specificity,less by-products,mild reaction conditions and environmental protection.This paper summarized and prospected researches of glycosides' microbial transformation.

AIM: To investigate the inhibitory effect of Chinese medicine Jinan injection(JA) on Lewis lung cancer (LLC) in mice. METHODS: The C 57 BL/6J mice with Lewis lung cancer(LLC) were divided into normal saline(NS), Jinan high dose (JAH), Jinan middle dose (JAM), Jinan low dose (JAL) and cyclophosphamide(CTX) groups. The body weight changes and inhibitory rate of LLC in each group were observed. In addition, flow cytometry and TUNEL were used to detect the anticancer mechanism of Jinan. RESULTS: The body weights were increased significantly in JA-treated groups vs CTX and the resistant rate was 45.79%, 40.90%, 32.48% and 98.96%, respectively. The apoptotic rate was 24.19%, 14.95% and 13.93% in JAH, JAM and JAL, respectively, and the Jinan induced apoptosis of LIC in a dose-dependent manner.CONCLUSION: Jinan injection inhibites the growth of LLC, and the apoptosis induction may be one of mechanisms that Jinan treates LLC in mice.

In this article, the authors firstly summarized the number of applications submitted to and projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in the field of traditional Chinese medicine research in 2010. Then they described the district distribution, research direction layout and allotment of the approved projects in the three primary disciplines (traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese materia medica and integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine) and their 43 subdisciplines. The targeting suggestions for improvement were given respectively by concluding the reason of disapproved projects from the point of view of applicants and supporting institution, and by stating the common problems existing in the review process from the perspectives of fund managers and evaluation experts. Lastly, the major funding fields in the near future were predicted in the hope of providing guidance for applicants.

BACKGROUND: Many experiments indicate that the angiogenesis of tissue engineered bone graft plays a key role in the osteogenesis.OBJECTIVE: An experimental pattern was set up designed to prepare a kind of vascularized engineered-bone graft for repairing rhesus tibia defects and analyze the relation of angiogenesis and osteogenesis in vivo by rontgenographic and morphological approaches.DESIGN: Random controlled animal experiment.SETTING: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University.MATERIALS: The composite graft was constructed by seeding the induced bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) on to a beta-tricalcium phosphate(3-TCP) scaffold in vitro, a circular cylinder (20 mm × 8 mm diameter) with a slit (width 2 mm and length 3 mm ) open to both ends and slot. Porosity 60% and pore diameter 100-150 μm. Twenty-nine healthy rhesuses aged 4-5 years and weighted 3.5-5 kg were adopted without gender limitation.METHODS: The experiment was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Nanfan Hospital, Southern Medical University from October 2003 to July 2005. ①Bone-periosteum defect of 20 mm was made in the middle part of right tibia of the 27 rhesuses, and randomly divided into 3 groups equally. ②The defect gaps in fascia-blood vessel group (A) were plugged with in vitro engineered composites constructed by bone marrow stem cells and 3-TCP scaffold, which were totally hugged by a sheet of pedicled deep fascia and additionally a corresponding portion of saphenous artery and veins. The gaps in fascia group (B) and control group(C), however, were inserted with fascia-coated tissue engineered bone and tissue engineered bone only, respectively. Furthermore, two rhesuses without filling materials on the defect were picked up as blanks fixed by steel pins. ③The angiogenesis and osteogenesis for each treatment was assessed by radioactive imaging, roentgenographic analyses, blocking density and vaso-area image analysis at time intervals of 4, 8 and 12 weeks postoperative.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The score of radioactive imaging,roentgenographic, morphological and vaso-area image analyses RESULTS: Totally 29 rhesuses were involved in the result analysis.① General observation of samples: In group A, all the surfaces of the implanted material and the central part were wholly wrapped up or replaced by bonelike tissues which were hard and could not be broken. And 2/3 materials had been absorbed; In group B and C, partial materials of the medial surface and the front were not coated or replaced by bonelike tissues, which could be broken with force, and 1/3 material had been absorbed.②Histological observation of scaffolds: With time passing, the scaffold materials were absorbed to different degrees in group A, B and C, among which, group A was most significant; Under the microscope, the implanted materials at 12 weeks were completely coated with the bonelike tissues, while the blood vessels structures in the materials were mostly alveoli alike and multi-braches. In group B, most of the materials at 12 weeks were wrapped up by the new bone, and few blood vessels could be seen in the center of the materials. In group C, the implanted materials at 12 weeks were slightly absorbed. The new bone and the vascular structures were both increased a little, but still very few.③Analyses of vaso-area: The vaso-areas of both central and peripheral parts in group A were significantly bigger than those of group B and C (P ＜ 0.05). Furthermore, it tended to increase with the time.④X-rays observation: At 12 weeks, group A's images presented obviously decreased density which was lower than that of the normal bone in individual areas and the continual bony callus manifested. Whereas group B and C's images showed slightly decreased density and the continual bony callus appeared on the sections. ⑤The roentgenographic scores of bone defects: The results indicates that the scores of group A was better than those of group B and C at 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: ①This study shows that a feasible and effective angiogenesis approach of tissue engineered bone can accelerate osteogenesis in vivo. ②The absorption level is positively related to local angiogenesis.

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy ofFufang Shenlu Granule for kidney-yang deficiency aplastic anemia (AA) and its effects on CD4+ T lymphocyte subsets, and explore its mechanism.Methods Forty AA patients were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, 20 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated withFufang Shenlu Granule combined with conventional western medicine therapy, while the control group was only treated with conventional western medicine therapy. The treatment lasted for 6 months, and follow-up visits lasted for at least one year. The clinical efficacy and T lymphocyte subsets ratio changes before and after treatment in the two groups were observed.Results The clinical efficacy of treatment group was better than that of control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the blood cell counts of the two groups were improved than those of before treatment (P<0.05,P<0.01). After treatment, the red blood cell count and hemoglobin of treatment group were higher than those of control group (P<0.05). Compared with the data before treatment in treatment group, the ratio of CD4+CD25+ cells in all CD4+ cells, and the ratio of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ cells in all CD4+CD25+ cells increased (P<0.05); the ratio of Th1 and Th2 cells in all CD3+CD4+ decreased (P<0.05). The ratio of Th2 cells was lower than that before treatment in the control group (P<0.05).ConclusionFufang Shenlu Granule can enhance the treatment efficiency of AA with kidney-yang deficiency syndrome. The mechanism may be related to the decrease of Th1 cells, the increase of CD4+CD25+Tregs and their FoxP3 expression.

Objective To compare the analgesic effects of fire needling, conventional acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding in rats with rheumatoid arthritis.Methods Fifty healthy male SD rats were randomized into control, model, acupuncture, fire needling and catgut embedding groups, 10 rats each. A SD rat model of rheumatoid arthritis was made by intracutaneous injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant into the right hind foot pad. Right Kunlun and Zusanli were selected as therapeutic points in the three groups and given fire needling, acupuncture or catgut embedding. The right paw mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were used as observation indices and measured in every group of rats at one day before and four days after model making and at one, seven and fourteen days after the beginning of treatment. Rat paw inflammatory tissues were separated after the completion of treatment. The IL-1 and TNF-α contents of them were measured. Results There were statistically significant differences in MWT and TWL between the model, acupuncture, fire needling or catgut embedding group and the control group after model making, and one, seven and fourteen days of treatment (P<0.01). There were statistically significant differences in MWT and TWL between the fire needling group and the model, acupuncture or catgut embedding group after one, seven and fourteen days of treatment (P<0.01,P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference in MWT between the acupuncture or catgut embedding group and the model group after one, seven and fourteen days of treatment (P<0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in TWL between the acupuncture or catgut embedding group and the model group after seven and fourteen days of treatment (P<0.01,P<0.05). There were statistically significant differences in IL-1 and TNF-α contents between the model, acupuncture, catgut embedding or fire needling group and the control group after model making (P<0.01). after treatment, there were statistically significant differences in IL-1 and TNF-α contents between the acupuncture, catgut embedding or fire needling group and the model group and between the acupuncture or catgut embedding group and the fire needling group (P<0.05).Conclusions Fire needling can raise pain threshold in rats with rheumatoid arthritis. It alleviates rheumatoid arthritis-induced chronic pain by reducing the inflammatory factor content of affected muscular tissues.

Objective To compare the efficacy of ureteroscopic lithotripsy(URL)combined with occlusion device and the supine and lithotomy position mini-invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy(mPCNL)in the treatment of upper incarcerated ureteral stones. No difference could be found in age,sex and size of stones between the two groups. Method From Jan. 2014 to Dec. 2016 in our hospital,all cases of upper incarcerated ureteral stones were diviede into two groups:52 in ureteroscopic lithotripsy combined with occlusion device group and 45 in mini-inva-sive percutaneous nephrolithotomy group. Result The hospitalization and operation time in URL group were(5.5 ± 1.4)days and(53.3 ± 12.4)mins,which were significantly shorter than that in mPCNL group with(9.1 ± 3.2)days and(78.2 ± 14.1)mins,(P<0.05). There were no differences between mPCNL and URL groups in the success rate of operation(97.8% vs 94.2%,P > 0.05),stone clearance rate(100% vs 91.8,P > 0.05)and complication rate (4.4%vs 3.9%,P>0.05). Conclusion URL combined with occlusion device can obtain satifactory results as well as the supine and lithotomy position mPCNL in the treatment of upper incarcerated ureteral stones.

AIM: To investigate the effects of Chinese medicine, Jinan injection, on ultrastructure and mitochondria in cultured lung cancer cell lines. METHODS: The cultured lung cancer cell lines PG and PAa were used and divided into 4 groups: control (C), cisplatin (DDP), Jinan (JA) and Jinan in combination with cisplatin (DJ), respectively. The changes of morphology and mitochondria membrane potential, intracellular Ca~(2+) and pH in every group were observed by inverted microscope and electronic microscope as well as by using flow cytometry, staining by rhodamine, Fluo-3 and BCECF, respectively. RESULTS: Degeneration cells showed chromatin condensation and peripheral congregation. In cytoplasm autophage lysosome increased and myelinoid body was seen easily. In mitochondria structure, where the space between the inner and outer membranes of these organelles expanded as the matrix was compressed. The electron-dense or swelled was observed as vacuole degeneration and its matrix showed electron-lucent. Compared to control, mitochondria membrane potential increased in every group after 24 h and 48 h treatment. DDP increased intracellular calcium ion in PG cells, however, in PAa cells, JA and DJ decreased it. Intracellular pH got lower at 24 h and higher at 48 h in PG and PAa cells. There were significance in every group vs control in PG and PAa by statistic t-test (P

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a disease of neuromuscular junction and mainly autoimmune in aetiology. The state of thymus is a critical determinant for the prognosis. In this retrospective review study, we aimed at clarifying the relationship between the mode of clinical presentation of MG and the radiopathological classification of the thymus. We identified patients with MG from the database of our medical center from 1988 – 2017. The patients were classified into two groups according to their clinical presentation: those with a typical presentation with diurnal variation, and those with an atypical presentation of persistent weakness or respiratory failure from the beginning. The underlying thymic state was categorized into six groups: normal, abnormal by imaging (if no operation was performed), hyperplasia, benign thymoma, cortical type thymoma, and malignant thymoma. In total, 227 patients (133 females and 94 males) were included in the analysis, of whom 68% were classified into the typical presentation group. The atypical presentation correlated significantly with thymic categories (p = 0.014) and sex (p = 0.026) but not age at onset (p = 0.232). The atypical presentation was more common in the male patients and in those with thymic carcinoma.